2018 Ride For Dad helps raise thousands

IROQUOIS – “The communities of Chesterville, Ingleside, Iroquois and Winchester welcomed Ride For Dad with open arms and turned a good day into a beautiful day,” said Keith Fong, co-chair of the TELUS Ottawa Ride For Dad.

“Ride participants and volunteers were treated like hometown heroes. Many met as strangers and left as friends.

These communities showcased the best in hospitality and the potential when local businesses work together: the Ride for Dad gains strong partners in the fight against prostate cancer.”

A cheque for $500, from the volunteer instructors of the motorcycle safety course of the Ottawa Safety Council, was presented at the Point. Left to right are Don Helman, co-chair, the Ottawa Ride For Dad, Brent Fishman, the Ottawa Safety Council, Dave (a prostate cancer survivor) and Barb Black (their daughter Shari Black is CEO of the Ottawa Safety Council), Mike Laflamme, road captain of the Ottawa Ride For Dad and Keith Fong, co-chair of the Ottawa Ride For Dad. (Contributed photo/Stephen Law)

This year, 1,232 participants took part Saturday, June 2, in the annual Ride For Dad, organized to raise public awareness and funds to continue the fight against prostate cancer.

Organizers say that $207,115 was raised by this year’s event.

Iroquois was one of the stops on the route which took riders from the Aviation Museum in Ottawa to Winchester. Bikers signed in at the Point, picking up their poker cards, (part of the fun of the Ride).

Mayor Evonne Delegarde was on hand to welcome riders from Ottawa and other parts of Eastern Ontario to South Dundas.

The Golden Gears Car Club also set up a small display in the park. Many of the visitors were excited to see two ships pass through the locks during their time in Iroquois.

Local volunteers manned the entrance to Point, handed out water and information, signed the bikers in and offered the cards for the poker draw. Volunteers were also very busy directing the cyclists to parking areas as wave after wave of riders came in under sunny skies.

The South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services were also on site during the event.

“All the funds raised in this area, stay in the Ottawa area,” said Stephen Law, one of the volunteers. “The funds help to support our PSA clinic at Winchester District Memorial Hospital, coming up on August 11. The clinic offers free testing and provides education about prostate cancer to men.”